Man killed in Little Rock pushes homicide total to 47LITTLE ROCK— Little Rock police say a 30-year-old man found shot to death at an apartment complex is the city's 47th homicide victim of the year. Last year, the city had 42 homicides. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Wednesday that police were called Tuesday night to an apartment complex and found Paul Gonzales of Jacksonville dead. An officer patrolling the area had found the body. Television station KATV reported that witnesses said th...

Red Cross to cease blood donations in central ArkansasLITTLE ROCK — The American Red Cross says it will no longer be taking blood donations from central Arkansas starting next year but will continue providing services to other parts of the state. The Red Cross plans to transfer its Little Rock and Russellville-based blood collections to the Arkansas Blood Institute by January. The nonprofit said 44 of its employees in central Arkansas will be losing their jobs, though 43 will be offered equivalen...

Arkansas prisons chief says vacant positions a challengeLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas' prison system is struggling with a high number of vacancies as the department tries to address a violent rash of incidents that have included attacks on guards by inmates, the state's correction chief told lawmakers Wednesday. Arkansas Department of Correction officials told a legislative panel that more than 300 of the 4,700 positions in the state's prison system remain vacant, and retaining the employees has been a pr...

Obituary: Sylvia CalkaCLARKSVILLE — Sylvia Kay Calka, 67, of Clarksville, died Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Clarksville, with her loved ones by her side. Sylvia was born Oct. 9, 1950, in Nashville, to Mr. Horace and Cora (Westfall) Lingo. Visitation will be from 6–8 p.m. today at the Roller-Cox Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, at Roller Cox Funeral Home. Online guestbook available at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/clarksville

Operation ‘To The Dirt’ — 70 charged, 23 arrested, 25 pounds of meth and 69 firearms seizedAfter several law enforcement agencies worked shoulder to shoulder in efforts to charge or arrest 70 people with multiple drug and gun crimes, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District announced Wednesday the unsealing of a federal indictment that accused dozens of people in Pope and Yell counties with drug and gun crimes. U.S. Attorney Cody Hiland said there are 70 defendants in state and federal courts as a result of the “To The Dirt” inves...

Documents: Police did little to stop Waco biker showdownFORT WORTH, Texas — Law enforcement officers prepared for war in Waco, Texas, on May 17, 2015. In parking lots surrounding the Twin Peaks restaurant just off Interstate 35, 16 police officers, including a SWAT team of 11, were poised with assault rifles in five police cars and two unmarked SUVs. Seven state police, some undercover, were inside the restaurant or nearby. Families were eating Sunday lunch apparently oblivious to the gathering sto...

Fire prevention: Plan two ways outWould you know what to do if there was a fire in your home? It’s something no one really wants to think about, but the reality is having a well thought out plan can save your life and the lives of your loved ones. Oct. 8-14 is Fire Prevention Week. Did you know there are about 360,000 home fires every year leading to roughly 2,200 deaths? In addition, nearly 11,500 ER treated fire injuries are reported each year. Practice these simple steps so...

Circle murder suspect testifies"I did not want to die that day," a Russellville man accused of the May 2016 murder of a woman from James Circle said several times during his testimony Tuesday in Pope County Circuit Court. A jury of seven men and five women will hear closing arguments from attorneys when the first-degree murder trial of William E. Gray resumes at 9 a.m. today inside the Pope County Courthouse. Representing the state is David Gibbons, prosecuting attorney for...

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BY SEAN INGRAM
sean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Community people: Andy McNeill and the Renaissance Student BoardTHE COURIER / Submitted The Renaissance Student Board of Russellville High School met recently with Andy Mâ cNeill of Denali Water Solutions to listen to his presentation on the importance of communication skills in leadership and how to become contributing members of the community. The student board meets monthly with area businesses and community members. Renaissance Foundation is a nationally recognized program that celebrates academic exce...

70 years celebratedSt. John Catholic School celebrated its 70th-year anniversary Thursday. St. John Catholic School was founded in 1947 by Father Rudolph Maus and has been at its current location since 1956.

Construction on Main Street, lane closuresEvening drivers in Russellville will have to contend with construction on U.S. Highway 64 (Main Street) between Lake Front Drive and Tyler Road for approximately 10 weeks, according to a release from the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT). The project, which is a $2.57 million contract with Blackstone in Russellville, is part of an effort to improve the highway and will require overnight lane closures. Construction, which began on M...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Gun range owner exploring bid for Arkansas governorLITTLE ROCK— A gun-rights advocate who declared her firing range "Muslim-free" said Tuesday she's exploring challenging Arkansas' governor in the state's Republican primary next year. Jan Morgan, 54, owner of the Gun Cave Indoor Firing Range in Hot Springs, said she's forming an exploratory committee for next year's governor's race and will soon launch a listening tour around the state. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who was first elected in ...

Arkansas prisons adding safeguards after disturbancesLITTLE ROCK— Arkansas prison officials said Tuesday they'll upgrade security equipment, increase restrictive housing for inmates and make other improvements at facilities in response to a series of violent disturbances that have included attacks on guards by inmates. The Department of Correction detailed the improvements they're making in response to Gov. Asa Hutchinson's call for additional safeguards in the wake of the violent incidents. The...

Edward SchumacherEdward (Ed) Charles Schumacher, 86, ended his race at home in the loving embrace of his family in London, on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, and traveled to his heavenly home. Ed was born Jan. 7, 1931, in St. Louis, Mo., the eldest son of the late Edward and Genevieve Schumacher. He graduated from Beaumont High School, St. Louis, Mo., in 1949, then attended the University of Missouri, graduating with a degree in business administration. Ed joined the U....

Taste Along the River scheduled for SaturdayDARDANELLE — The fifth annual Taste Along the River, sponsored by the Renaissance Front Street Restoration Group, is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. Saturday on Front Street in Dardanelle. Taste Along the River, which typically sees 100 plus guests, is one of two main events Renaissance Front Street Restoration Group hosts each year and they look to make each event bigger every year. “We have two events each year, this one and Rocking On the River,” A...

Ashes and stinging smoke mark devastation in wine countrySANTA ROSA, Calif.— In neighborhood after neighborhood, all that remains are the smoldering ashes and eye-stinging smoke from a day of utter devastation. Newly homeless residents of California wine country awoke to shattered lives Tuesday, a day after wildfires killed at least 15 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes and businesses. Hundreds more firefighters joined the battle against the blazes, which were still completely uncontained. A...

Stanley Cup champion Penguins visit Trump at White HouseWASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is honoring the Stanley Cup winning Pittsburgh Penguins, calling them "true champions and incredible patriots." Trump welcomed the Penguins into the Oval Office on Tuesday. He celebrated their second consecutive championship in the East Room of the White House and singled out the achievements of playoff MVP Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and American Phil Kessel, among others. Trump has grabbed a number of spo...